Higher Levels Of Peer Victimization Research Articles

Gender Nonconformity, Minority Stress, and Psychological Distress Among Sexual Minority Adolescents.

Purpose: Sexual minority adolescents (SMAs) have disproportionate experiences of mental health symptoms during adolescence, and minority stress contributes to mental health inequities among SMAs. Gender nonconformity (GNC) could place SMAs at higher risk for minority stress and subsequent mental health symptoms. The current study was designed to examine associations between GNC, minority stress, and psychological distress among SMAs. Method: SMAs ages 12-17 years (n = 455; mean age = 15.52 years) in the United States completed a cross-sectional online survey from February to July 2022, including measures of GNC, peer victimization, family rejection, negative expectations, negative disclosure experiences, internalized homonegativity, and psychological distress. We conducted path analysis to examine associations between GNC, minority stressors, and psychological distress, including indirect effects of GNC on psychological distress via minority stress. Results: In multivariable path analysis adjusted for demographic characteristics, GNC was associated with higher levels of peer victimization and negative expectations and lower internalized homonegativity among SMAs. Higher levels of peer victimization and negative expectations were associated with higher psychological distress. GNC was indirectly related to higher levels of psychological distress via higher peer victimization. Conclusions: The current study is the first to document associations between GNC and multiple minority stress experiences among SMAs, and GNC was indirectly related to psychological distress among SMAs via peer victimization. Although all SMAs would benefit from interventions designed to reduce peer victimization and increase their capacity to cope with minority stress, such interventions may be particularly beneficial for SMAs who are gender nonconforming.

Attentional processes in response to emotional facial expressions in adults with retrospectively reported peer victimization of varying severity: Results from an ERP dot-probe study

BackgroundAttentional processes are influenced by both stimulus characteristics and individual factors such as mood or personal experience. Research has suggested that attentional biases to socially relevant stimuli may occur in individuals with a history of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence. Based on this, the present study aimed to examine attentional processes in response to emotional faces at both the behavioral and neurophysiological levels in participants with experiences of peer victimization.MethodsIn a sample of 60 adult participants with varying severity of retrospectively reported peer victimization in childhood and adolescence, the dot-probe task was administered with angry, disgusted, sad, and happy facial expressions. In addition to behavioral responses, physiological responses (i.e., event-related potentials) were analyzed.ResultsAnalyses of mean P100 and P200 amplitudes revealed altered P200 amplitudes in individuals with higher degrees of peer victimization. Higher levels of relational peer victimization were associated with increased P200 amplitudes in response to facial expressions, particularly angry and disgusted facial expressions. Hierarchical regression analyses showed no evidence for an influence of peer victimization experiences on reaction times or P100 amplitudes in response to the different emotions.ConclusionCortical findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of peer victimization mobilize more attentional resources when confronted with negative emotional social stimuli. Peer victimization experiences in childhood and adolescence appear to influence cortical processes into adulthood.

Psychosocial Difficulties Profiles Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities.

This study sought to identify the various configurations, or profiles, of internalizing and externalizing behaviors found among a sample of youth with intellectual disabilities (ID). These behaviors were assessed twice over one year, using self, parental, and teacher reports. Six variables were hypothesized to predict profile membership: Parent-child relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), student-teacher relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), peer acceptance, and peer victimization. To this end, we conducted Latent Profile Analysis among a sample of 393 youth with ID (aged 11-22years old) recruited in Canada (French-speaking; n = 142; 49.30% boys) and Australia (English-speaking; n = 251; 67.30% boys). Our results revealed five profiles: (1) Adjusted (13.48%), (2) Mild School-related Difficulties (34.38%), (3) Underestimation of Mild Difficulties (12.40%), (4) High Difficulties (19.45%), and (5) Internalizing Difficulties Unobserved at School (20.19%). These profiles, as well as profile membership, remained stable over time. Lower levels of student-teacher warmth, lower levels of peer acceptance, and higher levels of peer victimization were associated with a higher likelihood of membership into profiles characterized by above-average levels of psychosocial difficulties, especially self-reported. Based on these findings, future interventions addressing internalizing and externalizing behaviors could benefit from focusing on the school environment, notably peer acceptance and student-teacher warmth.

Concurrent and longitudinal associations of developmental language disorder with peer victimization in adolescence: evidence from a co-twin study.

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) experience higher levels of peer victimization than their peers. However, it is not known if such associations reflect genetic and environmental confounding. We used a co-twin control design to investigate the association of language difficulties (DLD and separately poor pragmatic language) with peer victimization and compare the developmental trajectories of peer victimization across adolescence for those with and without language difficulties. Participants were 3,400 pairs of twins in the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS), a UK-based population birth cohort. Language abilities were assessed via online tests at age 11 and peer victimization was self-reported at ages 11, 14 and 16. Language difficulties were defined as language abilities at least -1.25 SD below the mean of the TEDS sample. We performed linear regressions and latent growth curve modeling at a population level and within monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twin pairs. At population level, youth with DLD experienced higher levels of peer victimization at ages 11 (β = 0.27, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.20-0.35), 14 (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.27) and 16 (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.32) and a sharper decline in peer victimization between ages 11 and 16 compared to their peers without DLD. The associations between DLD and peer victimization were reduced in strength and not statistically significant in within-twin models. Moreover, there was no difference in the rate of change in peer victimization between twin pairs discordant for DLD. Results were similar for the association of poor pragmatic language with peer victimization. Associations between language difficulties (DLD and separately, poor pragmatic language) and peer victimization were confounded by genetic and shared environmental factors. Identifying specific factors underlying these associations is important for guiding future work to reduce peer victimization among adolescents with language difficulties.

Peer Victimization and Psychosocial Adjustment among Children of Parents with Physical Disabilities in China: A Comparative Study.

This study investigated whether the children of parents with physical disabilities endured higher levels of peer victimization. Particularly, this study focused on the mediating effects of peer victimization in the relationships between parental disability and both the emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviors exhibited by their children. Data were obtained from a survey on health and mental health among children and adolescents from disadvantaged families. The survey was conducted by Renmin University of China from August to September 2018 using multistage probability sampling method. The sample in this study included 716 adolescents, of whom 390 had at least one parent with physical disabilities and reported more severe peer victimization. In contrast to respondents who did not have parents with physical disabilities, these adolescents experienced more emotional symptoms and engaged in fewer prosocial behaviors. Furthermore, the analysis showed that 15.16% of the total effect of parental disability on emotional symptoms was mediated by peer victimization, which had a nonsignificant mediating effect in the relationship between parental disability and prosocial behaviors. These findings can inform practitioners who aim to help children of parents with physical disabilities improve their coping strategies and social skills to manage peer relationships. Moreover, these results highlight the importance of establishing an inclusive school and community environment to reduce social stigma and peer victimization toward children from disadvantaged families.

Youth Reported Perpetrators of Victimization Within a Foster Care Sample.

Maltreatment type, severity, and chronicity are predictors of poor youth outcomes, yet youth reported perpetrators of abuse have gone largely unstudied. Little is known about variation in perpetration across youth characteristics (e.g., age, gender, placement type) and abuse features. This study aims to describe youth reported perpetrators of victimization within a foster care sample. 503 youth in foster care (ages 8-21years) reported on experiences of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Follow up questions assessed abuse frequency and perpetrators. Mann-Whitney U Tests were used to compare central tendency differences in number of perpetrators reported across youth characteristics and victimization features. Biological caregivers were commonly endorsed perpetrators of physical and psychological abuse, though youth also reported high levels of peer victimization. For sexual abuse, non-related adults were commonly reported perpetrators, however, youth reported higher levels of victimization from peers. Older youth and youth residing in residential care reported higher numbers of perpetrators; girls reported more perpetrators of psychological and sexual abuse as compared to boys. Abuse severity, chronicity, and number of perpetrators were positively associated, and number of perpetrators differed across abuse severity levels. Perpetrator count and type may be important features of victimization experiences, particularly for youth in foster care.

Peer victimization and social confidence in youth with disabilities

With cross-lag mixture modeling we tested the direction of associations between peer victimization and social confidence over time for youth with developmental disabilities. We conducted secondary analysis on a subsample of 3188 youths from the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study (SEELS; three measurement waves over four years). The model revealed three classes. The first class had relatively high levels of peer victimization and comprised youths with varied disability classifications. The second and smallest class had high levels of peer victimization and more likelihood of having emotional disturbance. The third and largest class had relatively low peer victimization levels and greater proportions of older youths with learning disabilities. In the third class, more socially confident youths were less victimized by peers at subsequent waves, and peer victimization at Wave 1 predicted increased social confidence at Wave 3. Findings underscore the value of identifying factors that decrease risk for peer victimization or promote resilience.

Longitudinal association between parental involvement and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: Consideration of future consequences as a mediator and peer victimization as a moderator.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in adolescents is a concerning issue. Positive parenting has been found to protect against adolescent IGD, but the underlying mechanisms await further investigation. As such, this study examined the longitudinal association between parental involvement (PI) - a specific type of positive parenting understudied in the literature of adolescent gaming disorder - and IGD. Moreover, this study also tested consideration of future consequences (CFC) as a mediator and peer victimization (PV) as a moderator. A two-wave longitudinal research spanning 6 months apart was conducted. Participants were Chinese adolescents (final N = 434; 222 females; Mage = 14.44 years, SD = 1.56). They provided ratings on PI, PV, and IGD at Wave 1, and CFC-immediate, CFC-future, and IGD at Wave 2. Descriptive statistics showed that the prevalence rate of IGD was 10.81% and 9.45% at Waves 1and 2, respectively. Moreover, results of moderated mediation model found that after controlling for Wave 1 IGD and covariates, Wave 1 PI was associated with Wave 2 IGD via preventing adolescents who had higher levels of PV from developing a tendence of CFC-immediate and via promoting adolescents who had lower levels of PV to develop a tendence of CFC-future. Altogether, these results suggest that facilitative ecological systems (e.g., positive parenting and good relationships with peers) and personal strengths (e.g., positive future orientation) jointly contribute to the mitigation of adolescent IGD.

Longitudinal associations between coping and peer victimization: Moderation by gender and initial peer victimization.

Stress coping theories suggest that the effectiveness of coping depends on the level of stress experienced. Existing research shows that efforts to cope with high levels of peer victimization may not prevent subsequent peer victimization. Additionally, associations between coping and peer victimization often differ between boys and girls. The present study included 242 participants (51% girls; 34% Black, 65% White; Mage = 15.75 years). Adolescents reported on coping with peer stress at age 16 and on overt and relational peer victimization at ages 16 and 17. Greater use of primary control engaged coping (e.g., problem-solving) was associated positively with overt peer victimization for boys with higher initial overt victimization. Primary control coping was also associated positively with relational victimization regardless of gender or initial relational peer victimization. Secondary control coping (e.g., cognitive distancing) was associated negatively with overt peer victimization. Secondary control coping was also associated negatively with relational victimization for boys. Greater use of disengaged coping (e.g., avoidance) was associated positively with overt and relational peer victimization for girls with higher initial victimization. Gender differences and the context and level of stress should be considered in future research and interventions related to coping with peer stress.

Disentangling the effects of peer status and peer victimization on perceived physical health in adolescence.

Although exposure to peer victimization during adolescence has been linked to poorer (perceived) physical health, little is known about how multiple peer stressors may independently and conjointly be related with adolescent physical health outcomes. The current study investigated the unique, interactive, and cumulative effects of peer victimization and two types of peer status (i.e., peer preference and peer popularity) on adolescent perceived physical health, while separating between- and within-person effects. Two hundred and thirty-three adolescents (Mage = 12.7 years; 47.2% females) enrolled in two secondary schools in the Netherlands completed self-report measures and sociometric nominations of peer status four times, every 6 months, during the first 2 years of secondary school. Multilevel analysis showed that adolescents who reported higher levels of peer victimization than their peers also reported more perceived physical health problems. Moreover, when adolescents were exposed to higher levels of peer victimization (as compared with their own average levels), they also reported poorer perceived physical health (as compared with their own average levels). No main or interactive effects of peer status were found and the effect of a cumulative peer stress score emerged to be driven by peer victimization. Findings revealed both between- and within-person effects of peer victimization on perceived physical health, suggesting that peer victimization may be the most salient peer stressor to affect physical health outcomes in adolescence.

The co‐evolution of friendship, defending behaviors, and peer victimization: A short‐term longitudinal social network analysis

AbstractPeers are critical influencers of adolescent behavior, including defending against peer victimization. The current research explored peer influence processes associated with four different types of peer‐defending behaviors (comforting, reporting, solution‐focused, and aggressive defending behaviors) within early adolescent friendship networks. Links with peer victimization, friendship ties, and gender were also explored. Data were collected from 334 early adolescents ages 11–14 in Canada. Participants self‐reported on defending behaviors, victimization, and friendships over two time‐points, 8–10 weeks apart. Data were analyzed using Stochastic Actor‐Oriented Models (SAOMs). After controlling for friendship network structure and peer selection for defending behaviors, results indicated significant peer socialization effects for comforting, reporting, and solution‐focused defending. For solution‐focused defending only, the peer socialization effect was significantly stronger for girls than for boys. There were no significant selection effects across defending behaviors. In terms of social outcomes, youth with higher levels of reporting tended to have higher levels of peer victimization (and vice versa). Peer victimization was also positively associated with aggressive defending. Defending behaviors were generally unrelated to changes in friendship ties. Overall, these results highlight how friendships contribute to the development of peer‐defending behaviors and emphasize the need to examine defending as a multidimensional behavior.

Quantity and quality of maternal consulting: Associations with adolescents' loneliness and peer victimization.

The goal of this investigation was to understand the way in which the quantity and quality of maternal consulting are related to adolescents' peer victimization and loneliness and to examine whether these associations were moderated by adolescents' social competence. An ethnically diverse sample of 70 early adolescents (Mage = 12.39 years; 51.4% girls) and their mothers, living in the United States, completed questionnaires and were video recorded discussing hypothetical peer-related issues. Quantity of maternal consulting was assessed using adolescents' reports and observers' assessments. Observers' assessments of the quality (e.g., benign interpretation, threatening interpretations, and prosocial strategies) of maternal consulting were also examined. Analyses revealed that adolescents' reports of higher quantity of consulting predicted lower levels of peer victimization. Observers' assessments of higher quantity of maternal consulting were related to higher levels of peer victimization. More frequent threatening interpretations by mothers were related to higher levels of peer victimization. More frequent benign interpretations by mothers were related to higher levels of loneliness. However, higher use of prosocial strategies by mothers were related to lower levels of loneliness. Social competence moderated the direct associations such that contrasting patterns of results emerged for the adolescents' reports of consulting versus the observers' reports of consulting. Findings shed light on the way in which quantity and quality of maternal consulting differentially predicts adolescents' peer victimization and loneliness.

Anxiety Trajectories in Adolescents and the Impact of Social Support and Peer Victimization.

This paper examines whether adolescents can be reliably categorized into subgroups based on their patterns of anxiety levels over time and whether low levels of social support from parents, peers, and their school, and high levels of peer victimization, predict a pattern of increasing anxiety. Participants were 3392 youth from the Longitudinal Study of Australia's Children (LSAC). Youth-reported anxiety was measured at three occasions at ages 12/13years, 14/15years, and 16/17years, with social support and victimization assessed at age 12/13years. Anxiety trajectories were identified using latent class growth mixture modelling, and predictors of class membership were examined using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Three discrete classes of anxiety trajectories were identified. Most youth fell within a stable-low anxiety symptom class (89.5% males; 78.2% females), with smaller percentages in low-increasing (5.6% males; 14.4% females) or high-decreasing (4.9% males; 7.4% females) classes. Low support from parents and teachers, low sense of school belonging, and high peer victimization predicted membership of the low-increasing anxiety trajectory class, irrespective of gender. Social support did not moderate the effect of peer victimization upon the risk of developing anxiety, with peer victimization remaining a risk factor even when adolescents experienced good social support from parents, peers, and school. The findings highlight the need for screening in early adolescence to identify those who are experiencing low social support and high peer victimization and are thus at increased risk of developing anxiety problems. These youth could then be offered targeted intervention to reduce the likelihood of anxiety development.

Childhood Maltreatment in Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: The Impact of Cut-Off Scores on Prevalence Rates.

Childhood maltreatment is a common phenomenon in various psychiatric disorders. Accordingly, patients with disorders from the schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) appear to have high prevalence rates of childhood maltreatment. However, the interpretation and comparability of prevalence rates is impeded by methodological weaknesses and differences such as measures and thresholds used in previous studies. Therefore, we aimed to provide and compare systematically captured data on prevalence rates of all common types of childhood maltreatment in patients with SSD using a standardized and well-established questionnaire and the most frequently used thresholds. The sample consisted of 48 patients with a primary diagnosis of SSD. 58.3–77.1% of the sample experienced at least one type of childhood maltreatment. Prevalence rates for physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse were dependent on the thresholds used, while equal rates were found for emotional neglect and sexual abuse. Physical neglect (46–67%), and emotional abuse (44–48%) were most commonly reported, followed by emotional neglect (38%), physical abuse (25–38%), and sexual abuse (25%). Additionally, high levels of peer victimization were reported by SSD patients. It appears that childhood maltreatment is a common phenomenon in SSD, even though methodological details, especially cut-off scores, have a substantial impact on the prevalence rates that are determined. Therefore, the methodology of studies should be closely examined when drawing conclusions from presented prevalence rates.

Peer victimization’s impact on adolescent school belonging, truancy, and life satisfaction: A cross-cohort international comparison

Peer victimization is a pervasive issue for educators globally, with well-documented negative psychological impacts. Despite ongoing anti-bullying efforts internationally, researchers have yet to evaluate changes in the relationships among peer victimization and associated factors from a global perspective. Therefore, this study adopts both an international and cross-cohort perspective in comparing the relationships among peer victimization and associated factors for adolescents from two Western Countries (the United States and the United Kingdom) and adolescents from three East Asian countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) using data obtained from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey from 2015 and 2018. Based on a review of the literature, a conceptual framework (including peer victimization, school belonging, school truancy, and life satisfaction) was developed and evaluated through Latent Mean Analysis and Structural Equation Analysis. Measurement invariance was demonstrated for all factors in the proposed conceptual framework across country and cohort (2015 and 2018). Latent Mean Analysis found that peer victimization among Chinese and Japanese adolescents significantly declined from 2015 to 2018, while American and UK adolescents reported higher levels of peer victimization, with no significant changes found for South Korean adolescents. The proposed framework fit the data from all countries and all paths were significant in the hypothesized direction. In addition to the contribution of our updated model, including the role of peer victimization in life satisfaction, key findings regarding the model’s structural parameters among countries and across cohorts, and the potential effectiveness of anti-school bullying measures in China, Japan and South Korea are discussed.

Exploring the Intersections of Disability, Race, and Gender on Student Outcomes in High School

This study explored the intersections of disability, race, sexual orientation, and gender on peer victimization, suicidal ideation, and school connectedness. Participants were 11,353 high school students ages 14 to 18 years ( MD =15.88, SD = 1.20). Of these individuals, 1,640 students self-identified as either having an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or as having a disability. Students completed online self-report measures. Results indicated that having a disability or identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning (LGBQ) was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation, higher levels of peer victimization, and lower levels of school connectedness across several racial categories. Moderation analyses examined the intersection of various identities. Findings indicate that differences exist among the intersection of disability, race, sexual orientation, and gender identities in relation to the outcomes of interest.

Attentional Biases to Bullies and Bystanders and Youth’s Coping With Peer Victimization

Effectively coping with peer victimization may be facilitated by deploying attention away from threat (i.e., bullies, reinforcers) and toward available support (e.g., defenders). To test this premise, 72 early adolescents (38 girls; Mage = 11.67, SD = 8.14 months) watched video clips of youth actors portraying a bully aggressing against a victim in front of a reinforcer and a defender. Coping was assessed using self-reports, and peer victimization was assessed through peer-, teacher-, and parent-reports. At high levels of peer victimization, attention to the bully was associated with less seeking of adult support and greater retaliation. Contrary to predictions, at high levels of victimization, attention to defenders was associated with an internalizing coping profile for boys and a retaliatory profile for girls. Thus, attentional biases may contribute to poor coping responses among victimized youth, underscoring the need to study how attention to cues is translated into actionable coping strategies.

Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness.

Chronic health conditions are hypothesized to disrupt the typical trajectory of child and adolescent development, and subsequently lead to increased levels of mental illness. However, due to methodological limitations in existing studies, this theory remains to be fully substantiated by empirical research. This study aimed to more thoroughly test hypotheses in the field. This study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to examine the co-occurrence of mental illness among children with chronic illness in late childhood into early adolescence and explore mediating factors in these outcomes. Children with chronic health problems presented with a disproportionate rate of psychiatric illness at 10 years, and these chronic health problems continued to be associated with poor mental health outcomes at 13 years and 15 years. These outcomes were mediated by high levels of peer victimization and health-related school absenteeism. This study suggests that chronic illness may impact on functioning and social development in early adolescence, and consequently lead to increased rates of mental illness. Examining rates of school absenteeism and peer victimization may be key to identifying children at risk over time.

The effect of supervisory neglect on adolescent peer victimization: Mediating role of self-esteem and internalizing problems

Past research indicates that parental maltreatment increases the risk of problems in adolescence; however, research is limited on how a specific form of maltreatment, supervisory neglect, is associated with the experience of peer victimization. In this study, we aim to help clarify the pathway from parental supervisory neglect to peer victimization through the mediating roles of self-esteem and internalizing problems among adolescents in South Korea. Data were derived from the Korea Welfare Panel Study of 2009 which included 605 middle school-aged adolescents (299 girls and 306 boys). The structural equation modeling used in this study revealed that supervisory neglect was indirectly associated with peer victimization through a sequential pathway of self-esteem and internalizing problems. More specifically, self-esteem and internalizing problems were not direct mediators in the relationship between supervisory neglect and peer victimization, instead, it suggested concurrent effects by mediating this relationship sequentially. Our results indicate that adolescents who experience supervisory neglect in their relationships with their parents may develop lower self-esteem, which then leads to higher levels of internalizing problems, which in turn leads to higher levels of peer victimization. Research implications are highlighted.

Personal peer victimization and ethnic peer victimization: Findings on their co-occurrence, predictors, and outcomes from a latent profile analysis

BackgroundFindings on whether immigrant students suffer from higher levels of peer victimization have been inconsistent, perhaps due to a blend of measures for personal and ethnic peer victimization. ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated personal and ethnic peer victimization using latent profile analyses. The profiles were related to various predictor and outcome variables. Participants and SettingThe sample consisted of N = 4367 German elementary school students attending grades 3 and 4. MethodsThe students responded to eight items addressing personal peer victimization and one item addressing ethnic peer victimization. ResultsThe findings indicated a three-profile solution. In Profile 1, students experienced a combination of personal and ethnic peer victimization; Profile 2 contained students without any victimization experiences; in Profile 3, students experienced personal peer victimization only. Relative to native German-speaking students, non-native German-speaking students had a higher chance to be classified in Profile 1 compared to Profiles 2 and 3. Both profiles of peer victimization (i.e., Profiles 1 and 3) were associated with negative outcomes including higher levels of different types of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of self-esteem and peer self-concept. ConclusionsStudent subgroups of different patterns of peer victimization were found, whereby ethnic peer victimization was blended with personal peer victimization in one subgroup, and personal peer victimization was experienced in a pure form in another subgroup. The two victimization subgroups did not differ with regard to outcomes, but were differentially predicted by students’ native language.